Refrigerating apparatus and process for refrigeration



July 2, 1929. B. M. DES JARDINS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND PROCESS FORREFRIGERATION Filed March 2l, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet E. llllm EJE 9,692

July 2, 1929. B. M. DES JARDINS REFRIGERATIN'G APPARATUS AND PROCESS FORREFRIGERATION Filed March 2l, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 2, 1929. B. M.DES JARDINS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR REFRIGERATION FiledMarch 21, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 2, 1,929.

maar BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR REERIGERATION.

application inea March 21,1924. serial No.Y 700,810.

` My invention relates to a novel refrigerating apparatus and processfor refrigeration.

The chief object of 'my invention is to provide a simple and eflicientretrigerating apparatus Which can be manufactured and installed at a lowcost and which is particularly Well Aadapt-ed tor household use.V

A it'urther object et my invention is to provide a refrigeratingapparatus in which the refrigeration is produced by the'evaperation of aliquefied gas or gases, and the gases or liquids employed are used atsubstantially atmospheric pressure so that this apparatus does notinvolve the use ot' coinplicated and expensive coils, valves andcontainers such as are used tor storing and controlling gases underpressures above atmospheric. p Ji further object of my invention is toprovide a retrigerating apparatus, in which the degree et refrigerationproduced is under the complete control of the user, and simple butadequate means are providedby which the user can regulateA and governthe reduction in temperature produced bythe apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating rapparatusin Which the reduction in temperature is produced by the evaporation ofa liquefied gas, which is normally insulated trom the externalatmosphere to prevent the transfer ot heat from the atmosphere to thebody ot liquefied gas, the degree of refrigeration being regulated bycontrollable means toi' transmitting heat from the external atmosphereto the body et liquefied gas. I propose to control the degree etrefrigeration by controlling the rate at ivhichhcat is transmitted tothe/body' oli liqueiied gas or preventing the flow of heat thereto whenrefrigeration is not needed. f l

A further object of my invention is to provide a retrigerating'apparatus constituting a relatively small, self-contained unit, whichcan be readily placed Within or removed from the usual refrigerator etthe type common for household use, it being an object el my inventiontoprovide a unit such that a charged unit may be readily kplaced intherefrigeratoratter the manner in which a cake oil ice is placed in theicebox in accordance with the present practice, the unit, whendischarged` being removed from the rerigiierator and replaced by afreshly charged unit, or fresh liquid may be poured into the emptycontainer.

A further object of my invention is to provide a retrigerating apparatusin Which the reduction of temperature is produced by the evaporation ofa liquefied gas and in which one or moi'e different liquefied gases maybe employed so that the compartments o the refrigerator may be illedwith a selected gas or a mixture ot selected gases as the user maydesire. This permits the filling of the refrigerator compartmentsWith'an inert gas, for instance, having preservative properties, or amixture of tWo or more gases in proportions determined by the ratesat'ivhich the respective liquefied gases are permitted to evaporate.

A further object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatusin Which a reduction ot temperature is secured by the evaporation of aliqueed gas and the ,vaporized gases may be conined or retained in acompartment surrounding the container for the liquefied gas so as toprovide a relatively cold atmosphere around the container andcontrolling the rate of eva-poration of the liqueied gas.

Another object of my invention is to provide a reirigerating apparatusin which the refrigeration is produced by the evaporation of a liquefiedgas and means are provided f for preventing the choking, by accumulatedfrost, et the outlet from the receptacle containing the body ofliquefied gas.

A t'urther object ot my invention is to provide an improved process otrefrigeration according to which the reduction of vtemperature isproduced by the evaporation ot' a liquelied gas and is controlled byregu- Ylatfiiig the transfer of heat troni the external atmosphere tothe body of liquetied gas.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved process ofrefrigeration by Which a controlled reduction lof temperature may besecured and, at the same time, the compartment to be refrigerated may beilooded' with al selected `was or mixture ot It is an object of -myinvention. to provide a process of refrigeration by which the normal an'may be reconstituted and the compartments of the refrigerator floodedoperation, will definitely appear from the detailed description tofollow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my in,` vention bythe devices and means described in the following specification. Myinvention is clearly set forth and defined in the appended claims. Anapparatus constituting one embodiment of my invention 1s .illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view through a refrigeator showing, Vinelevation, a re frigera'ting unit embodying my invention in placetherein.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerating unit shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, seetional View through. the unit,taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary, horizontal, seetional view, takensubstantially on the line '4 4 of Fig. 3.

f in front elevation, a part of the front Wall being broken away to showthe control mechanism, taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional View, taken substantiallyon the line 6 6 of Figo.

` Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the unit showing thecontrol keys, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

"F ig. 8 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the controllable heatleak mechanism by' means of which heat is transferred at a regulatablerate from the external atmosphere toV the lbody of liquefied Fig. 9 is aperspective view of a portion of a hcat-insulated container for aliquefied gas showing a modified form of controllable heat leak.

Fig. l0 is a detail, sectional view, taken on the line lO-lO of Fig. 9,and

Fig. 11 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line Il ll of Fig. 3and showing a means for detecting a leak in the walls of theheat-insulating container.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same `partsthroughout the several views and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In general, my invention consists in producing refrigeration by thecontrolled evaporation of a liquefied gas. I propose 'to use a substancewhich is a gas at normal temperatures and pressures and which has beenliquefied. Such a liquid will return to the gaseous state provided thenecessary 'heatofevaporation is supplied to it and I propose to controlthe evaporation of the liquefied gas, and, consequently, the degree ofrefrigeration, by regulating the rate at which heat is supplied to thebody of liquefief`A gas. The `temperature lof the compartment to berefrigerated is reduced kby the abstraction of the heat umts necessaryfor evaporation, first from the heat conducting compartment and thenfrom the atmosphere `in said storage compartments and by the dischargeof the cold gas resulting from evaporation into the compartments. poseto use a heat-insulated container for the liquefied and to provide meansby which, at the will of the user, heat may be conducted from theexternal atmosphere to the body vof liquefied gas contained within suchcontainer. rllhe liquefied gas in the lcontainer, and the gas resultingfrom its evaporation, are preferably maintained at atmospheric pressureso as to avoid the use of the complicated and expensive coils andcontainers necessary when dealing with gases under pressure. As the bulkis increased about 80() times during evaporation,

a change of atmosphere is also provided for through the vent pipe 20extending from a point near the top at 20" downward through the usualdrain outlet through the bottom at 20. I propose to provide anadjustable heat leakfby means of which heat is transferred from theexternal atmosphere to the body of the liquefied gas'and in this way tocontrol the rate of transfer of such heat and the rate of evaporation. Ipropose to provide a heat conductor, which is normally out of heatconducting relationship with the body of liquefied gas but which theluser may bring into such relationship when he desires to start theoperation of the apparatus by supplying the heat necessary forevaporation. The area of radiating surface cxposed to the externalatmosphere, and in heat coni'iucting relationship with said heatconductor, controls, very largely, the rate at which heat isytransferred to the body of liquefied gas to be evaporated and controlsthe rate of evaporation and I propose to vary the rate of evaporation,and control the'degree of refrigeration, by means of a number ofauxiliary conductors which may be brought into heatronductingrelationship with saidY priniary heat conductor, as the user may desire.ductors have exposed radiating surfaces and, Iwhen they are broughtinto*heat-conducting relationship with the primary conductor, heat willbe transferred tothe body of liqueiied gas at a faster rate and the rateof evaporation willbe increased. In this way, I propose to 'providemeans by which the user has a very complete control of the rate at whichthe liquefied gas will be evaporated and, consequently, the degree ofrefrigeration produccd by the apparatus. i

.lroadly considered, my invention may be carried out with a singlecontainer Ahaving a liquefied gas therein, but another feature of myinvention consists in providing a plural- I pro-,

These auxiliary con-V ias ii o

v nitrogen.

ity of containers which are'normally heatinsulated so that no heat willbe transferred to the body of liquefied gas therein from the externa-latmosphere. These containers may held the same or different gases inliquid state and I propose to provide means by which the user mayevaporate the from one or another' ofthese containers, or from both ofthem simultaneously, at such rate as -he may desire. In the drawings, Ihave shown two containers and one of them may hold liquid oxygen whilethe other holds liquid nitrogen. If desired, the liquid nitrogen may beevaporated to flood the refrigerator compartments with nitrogen, whichis an inert gas having no chemical action on any substance which mightbe stored in the refrigerator. Both the gases might be op eratedsimultaneously to vevaporate the liquids therein. and flood therefrigerator compartments. with a mixture of oxygen and By suitablecontrols, the rate of evaporation of the respective liquids may beregulated so as to discharge into the refrigerator compartments amixture of oxygen and nitrogen having approximately the proportionsfound in the normal air. The es` scntial feature of my. invention,however, consists in the utilization of liquefied gas under atmosphericpressure and in controlling the rate of evaporation and, consequently,the degree of refrigeration produced, by controlling the rate at whichheat is conducted to the body of liquefied gas from the externalatmosphere.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown an apparatus by means ofwhich my invention may be carried into effect. The apparatus illustratedis merely. illustrative of one of the many forms which my inven-V tionmay take andI have referred to it merely for thev purpose of describingone specific embodiment of my invention. Iteferring to the numberedparts of the drawings, I have shown my invention embodied in arefrigerating unit designed to be placed in and used in the icecompartment of a frigerator of the type commonly employed for householduse. The refrigerating unit is indicated generally by the numeral, A10.In Fig. 1, I have shown a refrigerator All, whichmay be of any of theusual forms but is preferably of the type having double walls to providea partial insulation from external heat. I have shown the refrigeratingunit, A1", installed in the ice compartment, A,

. of the refrigerator so as to cool the refrigerpartment, A12, from thecompartment, 14,

arranged so as to align with the openings, 111, in the side wall of therefrigerating unit, through which cold gas may be dis charged from theunit into the refrigerator. A passage, 20, vmay be formed in the outerwall of the refrigerator with its upper end in line with the openings,111, in the adjacent side wall of the unit, A10, and its lower endcommunicating with the compartment, 17, beneath the unit. By means ofthis pasf sage, the compartment, 17, may be flooded with the gasproduced by the evaporation of the liquid in one of the containers ofthe re- Y frigerating unit.

.The refrigerating unitillustrated comprises a casing, 21, having a topwall, 132, provided with openings, 1253, through which the containersmaybe filled. These openings may be closed by the sliding closures,134k. The partitions, 135, form a pair of chan'ibers at the top of thecasing, 21, into which the necks of the containers extend, as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter. Within the casing, the two containers,22, yare mounted, as shown in Fig. 3. These containers hold theliquefied gas, the evaporation of which causes the reduction intemperature within the refrigerator. rIhese containers should be soconstructed as to control the transfer of heat from the externalatmosphere to the body of liquefied which they contain and, to that end,they have the spaced walls, 23, 24 and 25, the air being exhausted fromthe spaces between 'the walls so as to provide a high degree ofinsulation against the transfer of heat to the interior. The neckportions of the containers, 22, consist of the spaced walls, 2G, 27 and28, which are preferably made of a metal or an alloy which is arelatively.poor conductor'of heat. The spaces between the walls of thecontainers, from which the air has been exhausted, are scaled by thering plugs, 29 and 30, which areV preferably made lof a metal or alloywhich a poor heat conductor. The containers are open to the atmospherethrough the neck portions and it is to be noted that the passage throughthe neck tapers to a constricted'throat, 3l, and then flares outwardly,as at 32, for convenience in filling.A This form appears to yhave someadvantages .from the standpoint of re-, straining .the evaporation theliquefied in thevcontainer. A U tube 136, preferably of some materialwhich is a poor conductor of heat, .is provided in the neck of eachcontainer and extends over the top of the triple walls, then down a.considerable distance, as an additional means of safety against anypossible stoppage of the neck opening,` as any confined evaporation ofliquid within the container would strain the walls and eventually causethem to break. The two containers are arranged side by side and areconnected by the concentric T-'1nem vso lise

' nected to the outer walls 25 of the containers and has the forwardlyextending tubular portion 86. lt will be seen that these tubulai'portions are concentric and spaced from each other, the spaces betweensuch portions cominruiicatinp,` with the spaces between the walls of thecontainers. rl`he tubular portions, 84 and 35, and the connected tubularportions 3G, 87 and 38 are preferably made out of a metal or alloy whichis a poor conductor of heat, and the spaces between these walls aresealed by the annular plugs 39 and 40 which are also made of a metal oralloy which is a poor heat conductor.

Vithin each of the containers 22 there is arranged a metal strip 4lformed of metal which is a goed conductor of heat. These strips 41 areconnected to contacts43 by means of the bolts 42 passing through theinner walls 23, the contacts being arranged within the tubular portion35. Sleeves 45 of heat insulating material are arranged within thetubular portion 85. "Within these sleeves 45 the bars 44 are slidabl'ymounted so that they may be moved into and out of heat transi'ferring`contact with the contacts 48. These bars 44 are made of a metal or alloywhich is a `goed conductor of heat. Within the tubular portion 58 asleeve 4G of heat insulating.;` material is positioned and the rods 48are slidably mounted within this sleeve, these rods being,

separated from each other by a partition 47 of heat insulating material.T he inner ends v of the rods 48 are connected to vthe sliding;a

bars 44 by links 49, and the bars 44 are of such length that, when therods 48 are moved inwardly to the limit of their movement, the rods willlie between the adjacent ends of the bars 44 and in contact with suchends. kEach of the rods 48 has a laterally extending arm 5() with whichauxiliary conductors may be brought into contact to inthe e'll'ectivcradiating surface through which heat transferred from the externalatmosphere to the body of liquefied gas. ln order to move the rods 48 inand out, they are provided with stems 51 and 52 having extensions 62 and63 extending from the f ront wall of the casing` 2l and carrying' thekeys 64. -These extensions are made of heat insulating` material. Thecollars 53 and 54 are secured to the stems 51 and 52 as shown in Figs. 4and G, and these collars carry the strips 55 56 (Fig. 5)

which have the portions 57 extending rearwardly beneath the containers22 and providinc a com )arativei extended radiatinn surface for theabsorption of heat from the external atmosphere, for transfer to theliquefied gas within the containers when the bars 44 are moved toposition to make heat transferring engagement with the contacts 43. Itwill be observed that the bars 48 may be actuated independently of eachother, and that these bars provide a controllable heat leak by means ofwhich heatinay be transferred to the liquefied gas at the will .of theoperator.

ln order to control the rate at which heat is conducted to the body ofliquefied iras and, consequently, to control the rate of evaporation ofsuch liquelied gas, I have provided means for varying the effectiveradiating,- surface in heat conductinggl rela@ tion with the rods 48 andthe bars 44. Thisconsists of the auxiliary conductors 65,' 66,.

These strips provide extended radiating surfaces which are brought intoheat con ducting' relationship with the primary conductor bars 44 and 48when the rods 65, 66, 77 and 78 are brought into heattransferringrelation with the contacts 58, 59, 60 and 6l arranged on thearms 50 of `the primary conductors. By means of these auxiliaryconductors, the radiating surface through which heat is absorbed and,consequently, the rate at which heat is transmitted to the body ofliquefied gas, may be increased at the will of the operator so as tovary the rate of evaporation of such liquefied gas. These rods (55, G6,77 and 78 have stems 7 3, 74, 81 and82, which are made of heatinsulating` material and extend through the forward wall of the casing21, carrying', outside of said casing, the keys 75, 7G, 83 'and 84 bywhich these stems may be actuated. These are pulled out vfull distanceby hand till the tips of the conductors 65, G6, 77 and 78 are pulled outof the'contacts 58, 59', GO and 6l.

lhave found it desirable to provide connections between these stems 62,68, 73, 74, 8l and 82 so that the depression of any one of the keys onthese stems willbring into heat-transferring relation with thebody ofliquefied `gas, heat conductors of such capacity as to transfer heat tothe body of gas at a predetermined rate. ,Tn other words, by referringto Fig. 2, it will be seen that the keys 64 have the legend Cool underthem. The key 83v has the legend Cooler under it. The key 84 has thelegentV Cold. The key has the legend Chill and the key 76 has the legendFrost". These legends are intended to express the varying degrees ofrefrigeration,Y

to be produced inl the refrigerator by this refrigerating unit,r'unningfrom Cool to Fre I propose to provide control means such that,if, for instance, the key 75 is depressed, the keys 84, 83 and 64 willbe automatically depressed with it, so to throw into heat conductingrelation' with the str-ips 41 wit-hin the containers, all of the primaryand auxiliaryconductors controlled by the :cys 64,. 83, 84 and 75.Similarly, if the key 76 is depressed, it throws automatically into heatconducting relation, all of the conductors controlled by the keys` 64,83, 84, 75 and 76. In order to accomplish this, I have provided, in'thisembodiment of my inifiention, the pins, 87 and. 88, on the stems, 62 and63 and a swinging gate, 85, having an arm 86 and portions 85/ and 86which are hinged on the pin 93carried by thev bracket 94', secured tothe front Wall of the casing 21. -The arm 86 extends in front of thepins 87 and 88 so that, when it is swung rearwardly, the stems 51 and52will be moved rearwardly to bring the conductors 44 into heat conductingrelation with the contacts 43. An arm ,89, fastened on the stem 82,extends in front of the arm of the .swinging so that, when the .key 84and its stem 82 moved rearwardly, the arm 89 will engage and swing ythegate 85 so to depress or move rearwardly the stems 51 and 52 with theirkeys 64 at the same time.` Consequently, when the operator depresses thekey 84, it brings both the conductors 44 into engagement with thecontact 43 and also brings the auxiliary conductor 78 into engagementwith the contact 61 on the arm 50. A pin 96 is fixed on the stem 81 infront of the arm 89. Consequently, when the key 83 is-depress'ed, boththe conductors 44 will be brought into engagement with the'contacts 43and the auxiliary conductors 77 and 78 ywill be brought into engagementwith the contacts 60 and 6l. A swinging gate 91, which is also hingedupon the pin 93, has one arm 92 extending over the stem 73 just in therear of a -pin on said stem. rlhe other arm 95, of said gate, extendsover the stem 81 just in front of the pin 96. Consequently, when the key75 is depressed, the gate 91 will be swung rearwardly andthe arm 95engages the pin 96 causing the stem 81 to be moved rearwardly. As aresult, when the key 75 is depressed, both the conductors 44 will bebrought into engagement with the contacts 43,` and the auxiliaryconductors 7 7 78 and 65 will be brought into engagement with thecontacts 5,8, 60 and 61. An arm 97 is fastened on 4the stem 74 andextends just in front' of the pin 90. Consequently, when the key 7 Gisdepressed, both the conducto-rs 44 will be brought into engagement withthe contacts 43, and all of the auxiliary conductors 65, 66, 77 and 78will be brought into engagement with the contacts 58, 59, 6() and 61. Itwill be seen that this provides a graduated control of the rate at whichheat will be transferred from the external atmosphere to the body of'liquefied gas within the containers, and that, therefore, the rate ofevaporation is controlled and the reduction of Atempeiature. may beregulated or governed by the user. The contr'ol means which I have shownhere is illustrative only,-andY I am not to be restricted to ings 111.These chambers also. communicate with the lower part of the casing ofthe refrigerating unit through the openings, 112. It is to be noted thatthe cold resulting fromthe evaporation of the liquid in the containermay be discharged within the chamber surrounding the container and thatthe heat necessary for evaporation is abstracted from4 thiscomparatively cold atmosphere, thus securing better regulation. Thelower chamber within the refrigeratiug unit communicates with thestorage compartments of the refrigerator through the openings, 137,formed in the bottom wall of the unit, A10. These various openings maybe controlled in any suitable way, for instance, by sliding dampers. Inthis embodiment, the dampers controlling the upper openings take theform of angle members having the portions, v113, which 'close theopenings, 112, and thezportions, 114, which close the openings, 111. Theopenings, 137, are controlled by the sliding damper, 139, havingopenings, 138, therein. I have provided suitable connections by whichthe operator may adjust these dampers to control the circulation of thegases escaping from the containers. These connections are shown in' Fig.6 and, for the upper dampers, include the stems, `115,r which vextendthrough the front wall of the casing, 21, and have the buttons, 116,thereon. Thedampers, 139, extend through the front wall of casing, 21,and have the turned-upears, 140, by which they can be adjusted. The rearends of the stems` 115, are connected through lugs, 121, to theportions, 113, of the sliding dampers. I desire to provide means bywhich, when the dampers are moved to open position, an auxiliary heatleak will be thrown into heat conducting relation with the body ofliquefied gas within the containers, or either' one of them, so as toresult in the evaporation of the liquefied gas in the container to whichheat is thus transferred. This auxiliary heat leak consists of al bar98, so positioned' that it may rest upon the arm of the rod 18. This barhas an upwardly extending` portion 101 which is slidably mounted inguideways 102, secured to the easing. This upwardly extending portionprovidesl an extended radiating surface for the absorption ofheat fromthe atmosphere for transfer through the bar to the body of liquefiedrgas. This portion is also provided with a ,lateral lug` 100, which is sopositioned that it lies in front of the corresponding one of the pins110, mounted on the collars 67 and 79. That prevents the depression ofthe auxiliary conductor keys when this auxiliary heat leak is broughti-nto use. It will be understood that this auxiliary heat leak is usedwhen it is desired to evaporate the gas from one of the containers soas, for instance, to flood the compartments of the refrigerator withnitrogen. A cam 123 is mounted on the stem 115, and engages a part 124on the upwardly extending portion 101, of the auxiliary heat leak. 1Whenthe stem is movedv rearwardly, to open they openings 111, andelose theopenings 1112, as shown in Fig. 7, the engagement of the part 1221 withthe cam 123 permits the auxiliary heat leak to be lowered into contactwith the arm- 50 upon the rod- 48 corresponding to the stem 115. It willbe observed that there are two of these stems 115 and keys 116, one foreach of these containers, andthe depression of one of these keys opensthe openings 111 on the corresponding side of the casing and nearlycloses the openings 112 on that side of the casing, so that the gasflowing from the container passes out through the openings 111. Thissame' movement lowers the heatleak upon the arm- 50 of the conductor Z18which is brought into heat conducting relation with that container.

I also provide means by which the dampers may be adjusted by means ofthe keys 11G, without lowering the heat leak into operative position.These means consist of the stem, 105, which is slidably mounted in thevcasing 21, and provided with a cam surface104e`which cooperates with theroller 103l mounted on the upwardly extending portioni 101 of theauxiliary heat leak. This stem, 105, which extends through the frontwall of the" casing, carries a button 108. IVhen this key is pulled outit willbeobserved that the roller 103 engages the upper surface of thecam, 104, and prevents the lowering of the auxiliary heat leak when thedampers are adjusted. y

I find it desirable to provide means to indicate when the containers arenot in perfect condition. If there an accidental leakage of heat whichwill result inthe wasteful evaperation of the liquefied gas in thecontainer or danger of excessive freezing it will he indicated?as'follows. j I have provided pins 126 of comparatively small crosssection, which cen'- nect the outer wall 25 with the intermediate wall2li and form a leak between the outer surface of the said wall 25, whichis exposed to the atmosphere, and the inner surface of the wall 24 whichin .ease of a break in the wall 23, is now in contact with the liquid.IVhenever a break occurs which would destroy the vacuum between theinner wall 23 and the intermediate wall 24, this break will result inthe conduction of heat through the pin to the intermediate wall and theformation of a frost spot on the outer wall 25 adjacent the end of thepin 120. These pins are located upon the containers so that their endswill be visible from the openings in the front walls of the easing 21.Consequently, the user can observe the containers through theseopenings, and, if the appearance of a frost spot adjacent the end of thepin is noted, this will indicate to the user that the container isdefective'and that they should be replaced in order to avoid a wastefulevaporation of the liquefied gas which they hold, and prevent excessivefreezing.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown a modified form of adjustable orcontrollable heat leak which is embraced within the spirit of myinvention and constitutes a modified form thereof. A sleeve 127 isprovided which extends through the outer wall 25 and the intermediatewall 24 of the container into engagement with the inner wall 23. Thisprovides a tubular passage or short neck, 120, through which the innerwall is in contact with the atmosphere, but I propose to cenduct theheat from the exterior', by a plug 128 of heat conducting material. Theplug 128 is provided with a central passage through which av plug 129may be inserted, which plug is also formed of material which is a. goodconductor of heat. It will be apparent that the insertion of the plug129 will decrease the rate of transfer of heat from the exterior to thecontents of the container and will increase the rate of evaporation ofthe same. When the plug 129 is ,not in use the tubular passage in theplug 128 may be closed by the closure 130 fastened to a spring arm 131which is secured tothe outer wall125 of the container.

The sleeve, 127, and the closure, 130, may very well be formed of ametal or alloy which is a poor conductor of heat and the closure may beused as a cover to check the flow of air through the short neck, 120,when evaporation' is not desired.l If desired, a series of plugs,128,1nay be used having passages of different diameters and sizes sothat they may be used in this way, to vary the rate of transfer of heatto the contents of the container, or one or more calibrated pins orrivets such as that shown at 126, may be employed for this purpose.

Vby cont-rolling' the rate of evaporation of this gasand this rate ofevaporation is controlled vby regulating or governing' the rate oftransfer of heat from the external atmosphere to the body of liquefiedgas. I control this evaporation by an adjustable heat leali. I'Vhen theprimary heat conductor is brought'into engagement with the contact 43,the minimum quantity of heat per second is transferred to the contentsof the corree sponding` container. By .bringing the auxiliary conductorsinto engagement with ythe primary conductors, the effective radiatingsurface is increased and the 'rate of transfer of heat iscorrespondinglyincreased, thereby increasing' the rate' of evaporation.I have also'provided means by which the. contents of either ofthecontainers ymay be evaporated independently of the'other so that, forinstance,` if liquid nitrogen is used in one of the containers, it maybe evaporated and directed into storage compartments of' therefrigerator in order'to flood them with an inertigas. If desired, bothliquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen' may be used, and the auxiliary heat'leaks maybe so proportioned thatthe rate ofi evaporation of the liquidoxygen bears such' arelation to the rate of evaporation of the liquid'nitrogen `that these `gases vwill be evaporated* vsimultaneously inproportions corresponding' to that in which they are present in normal.air. In

this-way, my aparatos is capable of flooding'L the compartments of therefrigerator with air reconstituted by the evaporation of these twogases.

The specific arrangement which I have shown is not the only means bywhich this invention may be carried into effect, but I have illustratedit and described it as being well calculated for 'carrying' out theinvention. I am not to be restricted to it, however, and I am aware thatthis particular embodiment may be varied considerably without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. I desire, therefore, to claim myinvention broadly as indicated by the appended claims. Y

Havingl thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A refrigerating apparatus comprising' a vacuum wall,container for abody 't liquefiec gas, and a calibrated heat leak extending' through thewall of said container for transferring heat to said body of liquefiefilpas at a predeterminedrate, said heat leak being' adjustable to vary therate of conduction of heat to said body.

2. A nefrig'erating,` apparatus compri sing a vacuum wall container fora body of liquitied gas, and an adjustable heat leak extend ing throughthe wall of said container for transferring heat to said body ofliquefied at predetermined rates.

3. A refrigelatine` apparatus comprising; a vacuum Vwall container .fora body of liquefied gas, a primary heat connuctor, means for bringingc;`said primary heat conductor into heat conducting relationship with saidbody of liquefied fras, auxiliary heat conductors, and means forplacing' said auxiliary heat conductors in heat conducting' relationwith the primary conductor.

4. A ref'rig'eratine` apparatus comprising a vacuum wall container for abody of liquefied gas, said container j iermittinfr the free escape ofthe gas resulting from the vaporizati'on of said liquid, and a heatleakr for` supplyingr heat te saidA body of liquefied ras at a.vpredetermined rate whereby the rateof evaporation thereof is controlled.

5. A refrigerating' apparatus compiising;` a easing` forming a chamber,a heat insulated container discharging within said chamber and adaptedto hold a. body of liquefied gras, and a. 'heat leali for transmittingheat from the atmosphere of' said chamber to said body of liquefied gasat a predetermined rate whereby vthe rate `of evaporation thereof iscontrolled.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising' a casing' divided into a lowerand an upper chamber, a heat insulating' container for a body ofliquefied gas, said container being; positioned within the lower chamberand discharging' the vaporizer` into the. upper chamber, andcontrollable means for transmitting' heat from the atmosphere of thelower chamber to said body of liqueed gas.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising' a casina` divided into a lowerand an upper chamber, means for controlling' the communication betweensaid chambers, a heat insulatingjr container for a body of liquefied raspositioned in the lower chamber and discharging` into the upper chamber,and means for controlling' the transfer of heat from the atmosphere ofthe lower chamber to the body of liquefied gas.

8. The combination with a refrigerator having storage compartments, anda compartment for receiving a refrigerant, of a refrigerating unitremovably positioned within the latter compartment and` including a heatinsulated container for a body of ,liquefied gas, and means forcontrolling the l0. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a pair of heatinsulated containers, each adapted to hold a body ot hquedhed gas, and

a common control means for regulating the rate of evaporation of saidliquefied gas including adjustable heat leak mechanism for transferringheat to either or both of said bodies of liquefied gas at predeterminedrates.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising. a casing having upper andlower chambers therein, a heat insulated container for a body ofliquefied gas positioned in the lower chamber and discharging into theupper chamber, means forcontrolling the communication between saidchambers, and heat leak mechanism automatically actuated bysaidcontrolling means for transferring` heat to the body of liquefiedgas. Y

12. A refrigerati-ng apparatuscomprising a heat insulating containerhaving a constrieted neck adapted to contain a body of liquefied gas,controllable means for evaporating said body of liquefied gas, and means`for facilitating the free escape ofthe vaporized gases comprising avent tube, inserted in said neck past the constricted` portion thereof.

13. A refrieerating apparatus comprising a vacuum Wall container for abody of liquefied gas, and a plurality of heat leak members which may beselectively brought into heat conducting relationship with said body ofgas to vary the rate of transfer of heat thereto.

14. The process of refrigeration comprising the insulation` of abody ofliquefied gas from external heat, and the transfer of the external heatthereto at a predetermined.

iliary heat conductors in heat conducting.

relation with the primary conductor.

17. A refrigerating` apparatus comprising a casing divided into aplurality of chambers, means for controlling the communication betweensaid chambers, a heat-insulated container `for a body of liquefied gaspositioned in one of said chambers and discharging into another, andmeans for'controlling the transfer of heat from the atmosphere of thefirst of said chambers to the body of liquefied gas.

1.8. A refrlgerating apparatus comprising a casing having a plurality of-chambers therein, a heat-insulated container for a body of liquefiedgas positioned in one lof said chambers and discharging into another,means for controlling the communication between said chambers, and heatleak mechanism automatically actuated by said controlling means fortransferring heat to the body of liquefiedl gas.

19. A refrigerating apparatus comprising av heat-insulated container fora body of liquefied gas, a heat leak extending from said body to theoutside air, and means controlling the rate of conduction of heatthrough said heat leak from the outside air to the body of the liqueedgas. y

20. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a heat-insulated container fora body of liquefied gas, a heat leak extending from said body to t-heoutside atmosphere, and means for varying the area of radiating surfaceexposed to the outer atmosphere and in heat conducting relation to saidheat leak.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN M. DES JARDINS.

